The 65,000-sf first phase of the West Lake Medical Center near the intersection of Bee Cave Road and Capital of Texas Highway in the southwest submarket is 100% leased and has a waiting list, according to developer Rip Miller of Miller Consulting. He tells GlobeSt.com that he has commitments for 57% of the 70,000-sf phase II. "I'd hope to be at least 75 before we break ground," he says.

The demand for space from medical service providers is part of the game of catch-up that they and retailers are playing to the Austin area's growth of the past five years, he says. "We're seeing a lot of new doctors, some more established physicians that are moving from more congested areas out to West Lake so they're nearer their homes, their golf courses, their children going to school and making the patients comes to them," Miller says.

The second phase of his development breaks down into 20,000 sf for an outpatient surgery hospital; 20,000 sf for a rehabilitation hospital; 2,500 sf for a minor emergency center; 10,000 sf for a sports therapy and sports enhancement center; and 15,000 sf for general medical offices. The first phase includes a HealthSouth rehabilitation center, physician and dentists offices and other medical offices.